Three New CMS-Approved Quality Measures Added to ONS’s Oncology QCDR

To further support patient-centered care and the value-based care proposition enacted through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015, ONS announces the availability of three innovative, high priority, outcome-based electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs).

ONS’s Oncology Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR) has five eCQMs available for Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting for calendar year 2019 reporting. Of the five CMS-approved quality measures, the two previous entries include Recommendations for Exercise to Adult Cancer Survivors and Goal Setting and Attainment for Cancer Survivors. New for 2019, the following eCQMs have been added:

Patient Reported Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) during Treatment for Advanced Cancer is a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM). The quality of life in patients with advanced cancer, is important to assess to ensure patients are engaged in the risk/benefit aspects of their care, are having their symptoms and areas of concern managed appropriately, and ultimately benefitting from their cancer treatments.

Assessment for and Management of Immune-Related Adverse Events During Cancer Treatment With Checkpoint Inhibitors is an intermediate clinical outcome measure. It’s the first of its kind to address new therapies and associated adverse events by proactively assessing and intervening with immune-related side effects, according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Guidelines for Management of Immunotherapy-Related Toxicities released in February 2018.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Test With MR2 or Greater Result (BCR-ABL1 transcript level <= 1% [IS]) for Patients Receiving TKI for at Least Six Months for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) is the first oncology-related adherence measure. Because patients with CML typically undergo many different treatments throughout the course of their cancer journey, they also require PCR tests to determine when treatments are no longer effective. This quality measure aims to ensure patients are receiving guideline concordant care and that providers are interpreting PCR test results with the intent of early identification for adherence issues.

“Ensuring that patients receive care based on current evidence, specific to their care needs, is critical realizing optimal patient outcomes,” ONS Chief Executive Officer Brenda Nevidjon, RN, MSN, FAAN, said. “ONS is, and has been, a leader in developing clinical quality measures that promote continuous quality improvement and focus specifically concerns most important to our patients, such as managing symptoms, ensuring understanding, and optimizing quality of life. These new measures are a great addition to the existing ONS quality measure portfolio.”

Premier, Inc., and Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) supported the development of the new measures, with BMS also providing funding assistance.

The Oncology QCDR offers robust reporting tools to promote instutional progress from baseline to continuous improvement with all ONS eCQMs. The Oncology QCDR is available to meet all Quality Payment Program requirements, including quality measure reporting, the Promoting Interoperability Program, and attestation for the Improvement Activities performance category.

All ONS eCQMs, including MIPS-approved measures as well as eight additional patient-centered eCQMs, are available for practice sites to use for quality improvement (QI) purposes. Those interested in using the ONS measures for QI still benefit from all resources offered in the QCDR.

For questions related to the Oncology QCDR, the new quality measures, MIPS reporting, or quality improvement interest, email research@ons.org.

ONS is a professional association of more than 39,000 members committed to promoting excellence in oncology nursing and the transformation of cancer care. Since 1975, ONS has provided a professional community for oncology nurses, developed evidence-based education programs and treatment information, and advocated for patient care, all in an effort to improve quality of life and outcomes for patients with cancer and their families. Learn more at www.ons.org.

Premier, Inc., unites an alliance of more than 4,000 U.S. hospitals and health systems and approximately 165,000 other providers and organizations to transform healthcare. Premier plays a critical role in the rapidly evolving healthcare industry, partnering with industry leaders to develop, teach, test and research care delivery practices and real-world interventions for healthcare improvement. www.premierinc.com/pas